Author Archive

Like so many other romance fans, I can watch the same HEA movies over and over again.

I have always been a sucker for Hallmark Christmas movies. I don’t start watching them until the day after Thanksgiving, and never watch them after New Years Day, but in between, my husband does a lot of eye-rolling. Truthfully, he thinks my obsession is adorable.

My go-to romance movies otherwise are Pride and Prejudice, the Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen version. My youngest son used to say, “Mom, are you watching the English movie again?”

Another favorite is While You Were Sleeping, with Sandra Bullock. And who doesn’t love You’ve Got Mail? I could watch both once a month, or more.

The first to change my life, or make me a romance fan, are much older. My grandmother and I used to watch Cary Grant’s His Girl Friday, Bringing Up Baby, and The Philadelphia Story. Needless to say, Cary was my first ideal leading man!

Most recently I discovered the “Before” movies . . . Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, andBefore Midnight. I know I was late to that particular party, but being able to watch all three in a row, without having to wait ten years in between each, was such a gift. These three movies inspired me as a romance writer, more than any other. Brilliant subtleties, rich and complex characters, breathtaking scenery . . . that’s what I want to write.

I don’t just write romance, I jump in and roll around in it. I’m incurable. And an optimist. I love the idea of meeting someone again, for the first time. Having that second chance at love whether it’s with someone you know, or someone you’ve just met. Reaching for the dream that you believe is impossible to achieve, because you wake up one morning and say, “what the hell—I’m going for it.”

I’d like to see more leaps of faith in romance. One of my favorite poems was written by George Sand. It begins, “Once my heart was captured, reason was shown the door, deliberately and with a sort of frantic joy.” I love the idea of throwing out all reason and allowing ourselves to fall in love without allowing fear to talk us out of it.

I believe there comes a time in everyone’s life, when they wonder what if? Or is it too late for all my what ifs? Letting love in, even when we think that phase of our life is over. Deciding it’s time, finally, to make a a lifelong dream a reality.